diff --git a/README b/README
index 966fb956b..0876aff27 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ The following packages *MUST* be installed in order for Gramps to work:
    Python 2.7 or greater, Python 3.2 or greater (python version cannot be mixed)
    GTK 3.0 or greater
    pygobject 3.3.2 or greater
+   cairo, pango, pangocairo with instrospection bindings (the gi packages)
    librsvg2 (svg icon view)
    xdg-utils
 
diff --git a/gramps/grampsapp.py b/gramps/grampsapp.py
index ac91e6122..179168979 100644
--- a/gramps/grampsapp.py
+++ b/gramps/grampsapp.py
@@ -239,12 +239,12 @@ def show_settings():
     try:
         from gi.repository import GObject
         try:
-            gobjectver_str = '%d.%d.%d' % GObject.pygobject_version
+            pygobjectver_str = '%d.%d.%d' % GObject.pygobject_version
         except :# any failure to 'get' the version
-            gobjectver_str = 'unknown version'
+            pygobjectver_str = 'unknown version'
 
     except ImportError:
-        gobjectver_str = 'not found'
+        pygobjectver_str = 'not found'
 
     try:
         from gi.repository import Pango
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ def show_settings():
     print (' python    : %s' % py_str)
     print (' gramps    : %s' % gramps_str)
     print (' gtk++     : %s' % gtkver_str)
-    print (' gobject   : %s' % gobjectver_str)
+    print (' pygobject : %s' % pygobjectver_str)
     print (' pango     : %s' % pangover_str)
     if usebsddb3:
         print (' Using bsddb3')
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/docgen/pdfdoc.py b/gramps/plugins/docgen/pdfdoc.py
index 4d06579a4..748c2fbda 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/docgen/pdfdoc.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/docgen/pdfdoc.py
@@ -86,7 +86,9 @@ class PdfDoc(libcairodoc.CairoDoc):
         top_margin = self.paper.get_top_margin() * DPI / 2.54
 
         # create cairo context and pango layout
-        filename = self._backend.filename.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+        filename = self._backend.filename
+        if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
+            filename = filename.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
         try:
             surface = cairo.PDFSurface(filename, paper_width, paper_height)
         except IOError as msg:
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/lib/libcairodoc.py b/gramps/plugins/lib/libcairodoc.py
index d8f118f54..92f9bb168 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/lib/libcairodoc.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/lib/libcairodoc.py
@@ -30,13 +30,12 @@
 """Report output generator based on Cairo.
 """
 
-from __future__ import division
+from __future__ import division, print_function
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # Python modules
 #
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from __future__ import print_function
 
 from gramps.gen.ggettext import gettext as _
 from math import radians
@@ -47,6 +46,7 @@ import re
 # Gramps modules
 #
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------
+from gramps.gen.constfunc import conv_to_unicode, UNITYPE
 from gramps.gen.plug.docgen import (BaseDoc, TextDoc, DrawDoc, ParagraphStyle,
                         TableCellStyle, SOLID, FONT_SANS_SERIF, FONT_SERIF,
                         FONT_MONOSPACE, PARA_ALIGN_CENTER, PARA_ALIGN_LEFT)
@@ -502,7 +502,10 @@ class GtkDocParagraph(GtkDocBaseElement):
         """
         Internal method to allow for splitting of paragraphs
         """
-        self._plaintext = plaintext
+        if not isinstance(plaintext, UNITYPE):
+            self._plaintext = conv_to_unicode(plaintext, 'utf-8')
+        else:
+            self._plaintext = plaintext
         
     def __set_attrlist(self, attrlist):
         """